Article handling device



Oct. 18, 1938. C, MON ElLLlE 2,133,557

ARTICLE HANDLING- DEVICE Filed May 27, 1937 n 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct. 1s, 193s. C, MCNEILME' 2,133,557

ARTICLE HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORQ' C/zas. 777 Cez'Z/ze Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica 4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to hoisting and transporting devices and more particuiarly to billet carriers having a load releasing arrangement associated therewith by means *I of which various articles may be lifted, moved and dumped from the carrier in a simple convenient manner.

More specifically the device comprises a forklike member forme-d in such a manner that a load-carrying portionvmay be moved under a 4group or stack of elongated objects such as steel billets, railway ties and the like. The fork-like carrier is further shaped in such a manner that when the upper end thereof is supported from a crane, or derrick, the load-carrying portion will be in an approximate horizontal position and thus permit convenient movement of the device under the stack from which the material may be lifted and moved.

An object of the present invention is to provide such a load-moving device with simple means which automatically responds to the movement of the crane to dump the material from the device.

.25 Another object of the invention is to provide, a fork-like device which is adapted to have a load-carrying portion normally supported in a 'horizontal manner, with means for automatically tilting the device.

am A still further object of theinvention resides in the lprovision oi a self-contained load-carrying device which *nay be moved under the material to be transported whereby the same may be hoisted by a crane, transported and dumped therefrom simply by the manner in which the crane is operated. v

ther and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration ofthe accompanying drawings and the following description wherein an exemplary embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

1 is a general View, in side elevation, of

a load-carrier and dumper constructed in accordance with the invention. l

Figure 2 is a plan view of an` endof the device shown in Figure l.

v Figure 3 is another view in end elevation illustrating the manner by which the device'is tilted to dump the 'load therefrom.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a group or stack of steel billets, railroad Y ties or like Objects I0 positioned upon a plurality of spaced joists il so that the material to be (Cl. 294f67) I lifted and'moved is slightly elevated with respect vto any flat supporting surface I2.

In carrying out the invention a carrier which `may be regarded as being of a fork-like construction is shown generally at l5 in the various figures 5 and is represented as comprising a plurality of angular bars I6 of any preferred cross sectional shape including a similar number of normally horizontal load-carrying arms l1.

The upper ends of the angular bars i6 are se- 10 cured to a transverse connecting bar i8 which constitutes the top of the element. The loadcarrying arms Il in actual construction of the device may be integrally formed from a continuation of the bar l5, as for example, by bending 15 or forging the same into the form illustrate-d in Figures Zand 3. The load-carrying arms I1 and the angular bars I6 may be rigidly heldin a spaced relation by a pair of cross braces l 9 which extend respectively from each upper corner of the 20 element downwardly to the opposite angular bars i6.' Further bracing may be provided by a transverse member Ztl which is secured to the bars IG in any w'ell known manner.

` The fork-like carrier is intended to be lifted and moved about by any suitable hoisting device such as a derrick, crane or like ldevice and the top connecting member I8 is therefore equipped for this purpose with suitable suspension means.

Y The hoisting and transporting device may com- 30 prise a bo-om or other Ysuitable device (not shown) from which depends a cable 2l carrying a hook 22 at the end thereof. Suspended from the hook 22 and an appropriate hook-engaging ring 23 is a pair of chains 2i and 26 which extend respective- 35 ly to and are adapted to be securely engaged in the eyelets 27 and 28 carried by each end of the transverse member lil.

The fork-like carrier when suspended in such a manner and viewed from the end as shown in 4-0 Figure 2 has a general appearance of being substantially L-shaped. The load-carrying arms I1 may therefore be moved by the crane under a group of elongated objects stacked in a manner as hereinabove described in connection with Figure l. Upward movement of the crane cable and hook 22 will cause the arms to engage the billets or the like. The bars I6 or the upper portion of the generally L-shapred carrier converges 50 slightly towards the load-carrying arms so that vf'hen the device is thus loaded the center of gravity of the load will not cause the substantially horizontal position of the arms l1 to be altered. With. the device loaded in such a convenient man- 55 ner the material may be hoisted and moved to the desired point for unloading.

The invention includes simple means for automatically tilting the fork-like carrier so that the material loaded thereon may be discharged therefrom by simple manipulation of the lifting `hook 22 carried by the crane. For the purpose of carrying out this desirable function each bar I6 is provided with a rearwardly extending projection or hook 29 positioned intermediate of the connecting member I8 and the lowermost portion of the device and preferably at the points where the bars I6 converge slightly towards the center of the load-carrying elements. In other words, if the lifting force of the crane is also applied at these points tilting of the carrier will be effected. A rod 3| extending across the back of the bars I6 is adapted to be suspended by'means of a pair of chains 32 and 33 and provide one part of apparatus for dividing the lifting force as hereinafter described. The chains are secured respectively to the links or rings 34 and 36 interposed in the carrier supporting chains 24 and 26 and the rod suspending chains are of such length that when the carrier is totally supported by the chains 24 and 26 the transversely extending rod 3| floats immediately below the connecting member I8. Suitable means may be provided for preventing lateral movement of the chains 32 and 33 with respect to the rod such as collars 3'I which are secured to the rod 3| in a spaced relation to form fastening devices for the lower links of the tilting chains.

A skid 38 is associated with each projection or hook 29 so that a relatively smooth surface is provided on the rear face of each of the angular bars I6. It will be apparent, however, that rear faces of the bars I6 may be shaped with integrally formed projections to provide substantially straight sloping surfaces from the normal position of the rod 3| to the tips of the hooks 29.

In the operation of such a carrier the arms I'I may be moved under a group of elongated objects |0 which have been stacked in a manner as illustrated in Figure 1. In other words when the carrier I5 is supported for upward and horizontal movement by means of the crane hook 22 and the chains 24 and 26 the arms will be in a normal position or substantially horizontal so that they may be conveniently moved under the material to be transported.. After the arms I'I are in a position beneath the elongated objects I0 upward movement of the crane hook will cause the load-carrying arms to engage the material and carry the same upwardly. The angular bars I6 being shaped as hereinabove described permit the arms I'I to remain in an approximately horizontal position, that is to say, the slight converging shape of the arms when suspended by the crane and the cross-connecting member I8 is such that the chains 24 and 26 are in alignment with the center of gravity of the load'and no tilting of the normally horizontal arms |'I takes place. The load may be thus lifted and transferred to the desired destination by movement of the crane.

When the loaded carrier arrives at a point immediately above the new location the material carried thereby may be conveniently dumped by simple manipulation of the crane. In other words, by lowering the carrier to a position where the arms I'I rest on a rm support further downward movement of the hook 22 will permit the chains 24 and 26 to sag. The chains 32 and 33 will therefore allow the rod 3| to slide down the rear faces of the bars I6 and over the tips of the projections 29. The slope of the rear faces of the bars I6 and the direction of the projections 29 are such that the weight of the rod 3l causes the Asame to fall over the ends of the hooks. With the rod 3| in the position just described upward movement of the crane will move the ends of the rod into engagement with the hooks 29. Further upward movement of the lifting means will tilt the carrier in a manner as illustrated in Figure 3 whereby the arms I1 then slope to permit the elongated objects I0 to slide therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a carrier arrangement which is adapted to be lifted, moved and tilted by the simple manipulation of a crane or derrick having but one load-carrying hook.

The ends of the rod 3| may be readily disengaged from the projections 29 to permit the arms |'I to again assume a horizontal position by lowering the carrier to the ground after the load has been dumped. When the device is thus resting on a firm support further downward movement of the hook 22 will permit the chains 24 and 26 to again sag, thus allowing the rod 3| to move downwardly. After the ends of the rod pass the tips of the hooks 29 horizontal movement of the crane hook towards the back of the device will cause the rod to escape the hooks 29 when the carrier will again be supported solely by the chains 24 and 26 on an upward movement of the' crane and thus be ready for movement under another load of billets or the like.

Athough a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be apparent that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article handling device comprising, a fork-like carrier element consisting of loadcarrying arms and bars extending angularly therefrom to provide a top for thecarrier, ilexible suspension means connected to the top of said element adapted to normally support said load-carrying arms in a horizontal position, flexible tilting means connected to said flexible suspension means, and means carried by said flexiblev tilting means normally hanging free along said bars adapted to engage said bars when said suspension means is permitted to sag whereby the carrier is tilted when said suspension means again supports the device. 2. A device of the class described comprising, a fork-like carrier element consisting of loadcarrying arms and bars extending angularly therefrom to provide a top for the carrier, a pair of chains connected to the top of said element adapted to normally support said loadcarrying arms in a horizontal position, a second pair of chains, one of which being connected to each of said first mentioned chains, means carried by said second mentioned chains adapted to engage said bars when said first mentioned chains are permitted to sag whereby the carrier is tilted when said first mentioned chains again support the device.

3. A device of the class described comprising, a fork-like carrier element consisting of loadcarrying arms and bars extending angularly therefrom to provide a top for the carrier, a pair of chains connected to the top of said element adapted to normally support said loadcarrying arms in a horizontal position, a second of chains connected to the top of said element adapted to normally support said load-carrying arms in a horizontal position, a second pair of chains, one of which being connected to each of said irst mentioned chains, hooks projecting from said angular bars, a rod carried by said second mentioned chains adapted to engage said hooks when said first mentioned chains are permitted to sag whereby the carrier is tilted when said rst mentioned chains again support the 10 device.

CHARLES MCNEILLIE. 

